Balloon passenger tells of ‘hanging on’
11 injured, with two still in hospital, after accident near powerlines
It’s pretty hard to figure out what’s going on when you’re inside and trying not to get thrown out.
Rob Pine, balloon passenger
An investigation has been launched into a hot air balloon crash yesterday near Queenstown that injured 11 people and left the frightened occupants “just hanging on” to stay inside the basket.
The Sunrise Balloons trip was “hit by a gust of wind” shortly before landing at 9.55am yesterday at its scheduled landing site off Morven Ferry Rd, Arrowtown.
The basket containing 10 passengers and the pilot hit a low bank and came to rest alongside a fence and trees near a property driveway. Balloon fabric was draped over nearby power lines.
Two people were seriously injured and nine others suffered minor injuries.
Sunrise Balloons owner and chief pilot Hugh McLellan said he was “deeply upset” by the accident and the company had temporarily suspended its commercial operation as it co-operated with police.
“We are fully supporting our staff and guests at this difficult time, and we wish all involved a full and speedy recovery,” McLellan said.
Last night, Southern DHB confirmed two patients remained in a serious but stable condition after being flown to Dunedin Hospital.
Nine people with minor injuries — including McLellan’s son Carrick, an experienced balloon pilot — had all been discharged from Lakes District Hospital.
St John Ambulance Central Otago territory manager David Baillie said the two patients with the most serious injuries had sustained internal bleeding, and the remainder of the patients had sustained “a range of minor fractures, bruises, etc”.
Passenger Rob Pine told Magic Talk radio he “was just hanging on” to stay inside the basket as it dramatically dragged along the ground upon landing.
“It lifted up again and then came back down for another one,” Pine said.
“I don’t think it actually tumbled, although it’s pretty hard to figure out what’s going on when you’re inside it trying not get thrown out.”
Sunrise Balloons confirmed that the 10 passengers on the balloon flight were a mixture of groups and individuals, all of whom are understood to be New Zealand residents.
Among those on board were a group celebrating a birthday.
Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult said he had been briefed by police that “some people were thrown out of the basket”.
“The balloon basket dragged across the ground until it hit a fence, and the remaining people either exited the basket or were thrown out of the basket,” Boult said.
“On behalf of the community, I express our deepest sympathies to those involved, and we wish them all the very best for a speedy recovery.”
Police were advised of the incident but said they were not investigating and the Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Accident Investigation Commission would be taking the lead on investigating. Both authorities were arriving in Queenstown last night.
Photographer James Allen said it appeared the balloon had been dragged off course and blown through two sets of powerlines below the Queenstown cycle trail.
“It’s travelled 30 to 50 metres into the side of a bank then dragged maybe
100 metres into a deer paddock, through a deer fence and then slammed into the house,” Allen said.
“From the power lines to the house is probably a good 200 metres of out-of-control balloon.”
Sunrise Balloons is family owned and has operated in the region since
1998. In a statement the company said it had operated for all that time without incident.
The owner of the property where the hot air balloon crashed, Phillip Bunn, said the balloon ended up next to his house.
He was not home at the time but his sister was and witnessed the crash, which left her very upset.
Balloons landed on their property quite often, he said.